She grew wet at his whispered words. The unbearable need to possess him consumed her. “Bite me.”
He did. The sharp pain lasted for only one blissful second before pleasure tore through her system, and she moaned into his shoulder. Her arms wound around his neck, and he guided her to her bed.
Pushing her down, he climbed on top of her. He grabbed a handful of her hair and gently nudged her head to one side. His mouth sealed over her wound, and he bit into her again.
Abigail cried out her pleasure, confused by how such a raw and animalistic act could drive her closer to an orgasm.
His free hand undid her bra as he inched downwards. He stripped her naked, taking his time with the lace knickers which he slid down her long legs.
Nudging her legs apart, Alexander settled between them, and his finger sank inside her.
“Aren’t you just going to fuck me?” she asked.
He chuckled. “I am a firm believer in bringing pleasure to the women I bed.” He pushed the second finger in, stretching her walls and seeking her G-spot. When he found it and started to stroke it while rubbing her clit, her back arched.
“Alexander…” She gasped for breath as he continued playing with her.
“That is my name.” He moved up, never stopping the sweet torment, until their faces were inches apart. “And it is the name you will be screaming all night long, my dearest Abigail.”
She planted her hands on his shoulders, pulling him in for a kiss. He didn’t resist, letting her take the lead. Her hips started to move on their own to match the movements of his fingers. After a few minutes, she had to tear away from him to take in a breath. She wanted more of him. And more importantly, she wanted him inside of her.
He left soft kisses on her cheek and neck before he sucked her left nipple into his mouth and rolled it around with his tongue. Her body quivered under him, begging for release that was quickly approaching. She was ready to scream out his name as the multitude of sensations combined together in a swirl of never-ending pleasure.
His fangs brushed her breast, and that was the last drop. She grasped the bedsheets around her and moaned his name as he kept on guiding her through an overwhelming orgasm.
With a knowing smirk, he helped her sit on top of him and relaxed his back against the headboard. “Don’t tell me you are already spent.”
Abigail shook her head and tried to level her breathing. “Not at all.” She lowered herself onto his hard member and it slowly stretched her tight wet walls. Her fingers pressed against the headboard. He was bigger than she had expected.
Alexander looked at her and, resting one hand on her hip and the other on her breast, started to move her up and down his length.
She bit her lip. Lifting her face to the sky, she closed her eyes to enjoy every little sensation. His mouth found her other breast, and she picked up the pace, taking him in deeper. The longer she rode him, the more she wanted him to touch her. As if reading her mind, his hands cupped her breasts, and he toyed with the hardened nipples.
“More…” she murmured.
“As you wish.” He picked up the pace, plunging in and out of her as she tried to cling to her sanity. The headboard became her best friend. Her arms and legs were growing weak, but she couldn’t stop. The tsunami of tingling warmth that was building in her core was ready to break her into a million pieces.
A sheen of sweat formed on her skin. Her damp hair stuck to her face and shoulders, so she brushed it to one side, revelling in the breeze that ghosted along her back for a split-second. Alexander’s cool touch also kept her from overheating.
She lifted his face and captured his lips with hers. Her tongue explored his mouth, tasting the expensive whiskey. It was a moment she never thought she would share with a man like him.
There go the three meals in public out the window…
With the next push, she unravelled. Her hands slid to his shoulders as her nails sank into his skin. She called out his name with each rolling wave of electricity that graced her body.
“Do you need help moving?” he whispered in a husky voice.
She chuckled and nodded. It would have been less embarrassing if she had any sensations left in her lower half, but she didn’t. So, Abigail accepted his help, and he carefully moved her off him to lie on the bed next to him.
“Are you the cuddling or the smoking type?” she asked with a giggle.
“Neither.” He combed her damp hair away from her face and smiled. “I do hope you are not too tired to continue in a few minutes.”
She gaped at him. “You mean you didn’t come?”
“Like I have said, my partner’s pleasure is important to me. I will decide when I’m ready to finish.”
She propped herself up on a shaky elbow and walked her fingers up his sculpted chest. “I don’t think I could feel the next orgasm even if I wanted to.”
He raised a brow. “Is that a challenge?”
That man had to be a freaking magician. By the time he was done with her, she couldn’t move a muscle with the count of four orgasms in one night. Never, in her entire life, had she had a sexual partner like him. Each caress of his fingers, rub of his thumb, or lick of his tongue was executed at the right time and in the right place. It was as if he could read her like a music sheet, and she had no choice but to allow him to dominate her in every possible way. She wasn’t used to losing control during sex. Usually, she would ride out her orgasm on top of a guy then let him do as he pleased until he reached his own peak. But Alexander was pleasure itself. A single night with him was probably the worst decision she had ever made.
Abigail assessed her empty bed with a sigh. It was Sunday, and she was going to meet with Ursula to tell her all about Chris and the catastrophe of a date she had with him. She debated telling her friend about Alexander coming to her rescue or the night of passion she desperately wished she never had. Now that she let him into her bed, how was she supposed to forget him?
“I should stop drinking,” she told herself and changed into a pair of jeans and a baby blue cashmere sweater. Her legs were still a little shaky, but she tried to ignore it. Once she secured her hair into a ponytail, she ventured into the kitchen where she made a cup of coffee.
On the coffee table, Alexander had left their unfinished bottle of whiskey. She considered returning it to him but scowled at her greed towards him. He signed up for a one-night stand; nothing more and nothing less. She wasn’t about to turn into one of those women who chased after him at every turn. She had standards, and the sooner she could forget about their night together, the better.
The doorbell announced Ursula’s arrival, and Abigail set her cup down on the kitchen counter. She opened the door for her friend and grinned. “Hey there, sexy lady.”
Ursula paused, giving Abigail a once-over. “You got laid. I knew it!”
With a laugh, Abigail grabbed hold of her handbag and locked her apartment. “I’ll tell you everything soon enough,” she said, heading for the staircase. “But where on earth did you hear that Chris was a nice guy?”
“From Graham, the HR guy.” Ursula paused and her expression grew serious. “Why? Did he try something?”
“Well, no. Not exactly. I think he might have a concussion, though.”
Ursula’s mouth fell open. She grasped Abigail’s arm, pulling her to a stop as they were about to leave the apartment building. “What the hell happened last night?”
“You know the guy I was complaining about in the pub on Friday?”
“Yeah…”
“He saved me from an argument with Chris, and we…spent the night together,” Abigail explained, nudging her friend to start walking.
“No! You hook up with one guy and end up in bed with another? How do these things happen to you?”
Abigail wanted an answer to that as well. They turned the corner, and she pushed Ursula into a small café. She ordered a ham-and-cheese sandwich and a muffin with her coffee.
Ursula shot her curious glances eve
ry time she paused to add a new item to her list. She ended up getting a pot of tea with a lemon tart and a freshly baked croissant.
They settled in at a small corner table.
Ursula poured herself a cup of fresh tea and asked, “Okay, so does this mean you and the hot nightclub owner are dating now?”
Nearly spluttering her coffee all over the table, Abigail put her cup back on the saucer and swallowed. “No.”
“No? Then what? You had a one-night stand?”
“I asked for it. I thought it would help me forget about him,” Abigail admitted.
“And did it?”
Abigail’s shoulders slumped. “I think it may have had the opposite effect…”
CHAPTER 9
ALEXANDER
A week had gone by since he had caught sight of Abigail, and Alexander was beginning to miss her spark. She was like a fox cub, cunning and cute at the same time. Tonight, even her charming personality could not bring him out of his misery and heartache. Standing here, in front of the three most important people in his life, under the judgemental light of a crescent moon, Alexander knelt on the soft grass. Three marble graves stared back at him—his mother’s, father’s, and Katharine’s.
Every year, he came to Russia to visit his dead family. It was a sentiment not many of his kind understood. His best friend, Lucious, not once spared a loving word about his parents. He kept those memories buried deep within his heart, and even Alexander could not pry it open after a hundred years of friendship.
He placed a single white rose on each grave, voicing a soft apology in Russian as he did so. When his fingers brushed his mother’s name, a tear escaped him. He quickly wiped it away.
Would she be proud of the man I’ve become? His mother was an honest, loving kind. She never once pushed him to do something that he did not want. Would she question my current lifestyle?
He let no one near his heart. Not after he failed Katharine all those centuries ago. If only he had abandoned his revenge before it had consumed him, perhaps her life would not need to be forfeited.
“Are you ready to head to St. Petersburg?” Maxim asked in Russian, joining Alexander at the graves.
Alexander glanced at his sire. In the dark, Maxim Grekov seemed like an obelisk. He was tall, powerful, eternal. Without this man, he would have died a long time ago. He would never have had the chance to be a part of this new family or sire Tanya. That decision he never regretted, not when she had become his pillar of support with her no-nonsense attitude towards business and life. He wished she would meet a man suitable for her, but, to his dismay, such a gentleman had not come knocking on the doors of his club.
“I’ve already finished here,” Alexander said, rising to his full height.
Max planted his hand on Alexander’s shoulder and gave it a squeeze. “You come here to honour your family every year. It is commendable.”
“Some see it as a weakness or foolish sentimentality.”
His sire chuckled. “Not everyone grows as attached to mortals as you do.”
A scowl crept onto Alexander’s face. “What do you mean?”
“You have been like this since the very beginning, son. It is part of the reason why I chose you.” Max started to walk downhill.
Not wanting to miss his explanation, Alexander hurried after him.
“With your mother, your lover, and your first servant, you lavished your affection on them without restraint. If I am not mistaken, you are still sending a stipend to Lev’s descendants since his passing.”
“He was a good man. He never broke my trust and never asked me questions I did not wish to answer,” Alexander replied, tucking his hands into his coat’s pockets.
“But, something has changed, hasn’t it?”
They came to a stop in front of Max’s silver Mercedes.
“What do you mean?” Alexander inquired.
“I guess you have not yet noticed it. That is fine. I am certain you will understand my words in due time. Now, let us leave. I believe Ewa is eager to see you again.”
“What about Matvey? Is he still taking care of your holdings in Moscow?” Alexander circled the car to get to the passenger’s side.
In the moonlight, Max’s sandy hair appeared grey. His green eyes twinkled with adoration for his eldest childe. “He chose to become a hound and presently is visiting Vladivostok. There were disturbing reports of increased hunter activity in that area, much like in Europe right now.”
Alexander cringed at the mention of the hunters. After what they did to Lucious and Helena, he couldn’t stand the thought of being near one of them. He would rather tear their throats out before they could speak a word. “How aware are you of the situation in Europe?”
They climbed into the car, and Max started the engine, allowing the vehicle to expel a satisfied purr.
“There is a Royal on the Council. I heard rumours that Kallias decided to take matters into his own hands and lead the new Council members himself.” Max faced Alexander. “Or are my sources incorrect?”
“You aren’t wrong. Lucious took the seat only last month.”
Max nodded. “I heard to claim a seat, he killed his sire. A tragic way to—”
“That’s not what happened!” Alexander snapped and immediately retracted his anger. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to shout.”
Max’s chuckle filled the car’s interior as they drove into the night. “I guess some news got mixed up. Not surprising. It is an abnormal occurrence for such a young vampire to take a seat. But, nevertheless, it is a pity the previous Council perished. I was quite fond of Eliza and her inner strength.”
“I’m sure many would disagree,” Alexander commented, remembering his encounters with her. The first time they met, she scared him to near-second-death with her terrifying indifference and schemes. Every time thereafter, her cruelty seemed to grow.
What does Max see in someone like that?
“No. She was a good woman. She had all of Europe’s vampires dancing under the same banner for over a thousand years. Youth such as you would not understand how much strength one needs to gain the respect of others. She chose fear as her tool over kindness. Too many would try to undermine her rule otherwise.”
“Does this mean Lucious could be in danger?”
Max gave him a half-smile. “With a Royal on the Council, no one would dare to oppose them, at least, not openly.”
Alexander let silence envelop them. He relaxed into his seat and pulled out his phone to check his e-mails. He had another business deal to attend to in St. Petersburg in two days before returning to Dublin. His thoughts took a full U-turn, bringing him back to Abigail. As much as he liked teasing her with the name ‘Abby’, he could see that she would pick his eyes out the next time the word left his lips. He would only use it if he wanted to drive her away in the future. Yet, the thought of being rid of her didn’t make him happy. After their night together, he couldn’t sleep with anyone else. He tried. He took to bed four of the sexiest models he knew only they didn’t make him as excited as Abigail did. Because of his lack of interest, he dumped a large sum of money into their accounts and asked them to leave.
His behaviour now didn’t matter. Abigail was particular about their intervention in bed being a one-time only occurrence. He wasn’t a man to fall into desperation. His pride wouldn’t permit him to beg a woman for another night between the sheets.
I could always seduce her…
Close to sunrise, they arrived at their destination. Unlike the European Council’s office building disguise, the Russian Council did not seem to worry about the hunters as much. They flaunted their power and reach by staying in the Winter Palace which was built in the early 18th century and was reconstructed and expanded several times thereafter. The Dutch style pastel-green, white, and gold exterior seemed too standoffish for Alexander’s taste, but he wasn’t going to complain about his sire’s present residence which was lit like a firework in the middle of the city.
As they
headed closer to the entrance, Alexander recalled news of a hunter attack in the mid-nineteenth century. They tried to burn the palace down with every vampire in it, destroying almost the entire interior. Because of the Council’s connections to the monarchy, King Nicholas ordered the reconstruction of the palace and its captivating contents hidden behind these strong walls.
He followed closely behind his sire who led the way through a maze of spacious corridors, rooms, and extravagant marble staircases with red carpets spanning their length like giant tongues. Gold decorated every wall. It was shaped into pillars, chandeliers, paintings’ frames, and made him wonder how many unnecessary furnishings did one’s abode need.
Next to him, Maxim let out a low chuckle. “I know you do not come here often but please stop glaring at the décor. It may disintegrate from your stare.”
“I wasn’t, sire.”
“Is the interior the reason why you have not come to serve me as a hound to this day?”
Alexander halted, forcing Max to turn on his heel and face his childe. “I don’t believe I am suited for working as a Council’s servant. Business ventures require much less exercise.”
Max assessed him with a long, penetrating stare. His green eyes were a lot brighter in the light bouncing off the gold columns of the hall they stood in. “I would never force you to do anything against your wishes, son. Your happiness is what’s important to me. But, as you may have guessed, I do get lonely. It is tiring to deal with the Council’s matters on a daily basis without seeing my children. I am beyond thankful your visit coincided with Ewa’s. Too bad Jana cancelled her trip at the last moment.”
“Why is that?”
His sire shrugged one shoulder. “It is not my business to ask. Come, Ewa is just through here.” With that, Max strode to the other end of the extravagant room and opened a set of ornate white doors.
They found themselves in a large sitting room which was isolated from the usual tours the building staff provided to human tourists, earning the Council and the royal family some pocket change. Alexander didn’t get a chance to take in the painted ceilings or the royal crests on the lacquered parquet because he collided with a squealing woman.
Monochrome Interview Page 6